Push-button activated grasper for surgical retractor

ABSTRACT

A grasper for a surgical retractor is provided. The grasper has a grasper body, a push-button activator and a holder to releasably retain a connector head of, for example, a retractor blade. The holder is configured to move from a first position, located at least partially in the opening to provide for selectively retaining the connector head in the opening, to a second position wherein the connector head may be removed. The push-button activator is operably connected to the holder to move the holder from the first position to the second position. In one embodiment the holder is gear driven by the activator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/052,543, filed Feb. 7, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,473,223 which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a grasper for a retractor, and moreparticularly, to a push-button activated grasper for a surgicalretractor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Surgical retractors and graspers therefor are well known in the art.While such graspers according to the prior art provide a number ofadvantageous features, they nevertheless have certain limitations. Thepresent invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations andother drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features notheretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantagesof the present invention is deferred to the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a side-loading push-buttonactivated grasper for a surgical retractor. The grasper has a grasperbody, an activator, and a holder to releasably retain a connector headof, for example, a retractor blade. The holder is configured to movefrom a first position, located at least partially in the opening toprovide for retaining the connector head in the opening, to a secondposition wherein the connector head may be removed.

According to one embodiment, the grasper body has a first surfacedefining an opening to accept a connector head, and a gear-actuatedholder connected to the body and configured to move from a firstposition to a second position.

According to another embodiment, a push-button activator is provided andis seated partially within the grasper body and operably connected tothe gear-actuated holder. The push-button activator has a gear member toactuate the holder from the first position to the second position. Inone embodiment, the activator has a gear track with engaging matingmembers to actuate the holder.

According to another embodiment, the push-button activator has alongitudinal axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of thegrasper body, and the push-button activator travels about itslongitudinal axis. Further, the push-button activator moves from anormal position to an activated position, thereby manipulating theholder from the first position to the second position.

According to another embodiment, a spring is provided within the grasperbody. The spring engages the push-button activator to bias thepush-button activator to the normal position.

According to another embodiment, an actuating member is provided betweenthe push-button activator and the holder. The actuating member engagesboth the gear track on the push-button activator and the holder totranslate motion from the push-button activator to the holder. In oneembodiment the actuating member is a gear that rotates about a shaftlocated in a cavity within the grasper body.

According to another embodiment, the holder is rotatedly connected tothe grasper body. In one embodiment the holder has at least one engagingmember adapted to be driven by the gear track on the push-buttonactivator.

According to yet another embodiment, a rib extends from the firstsurface of the grasper body into the opening. In another embodiment,another rib extends from the holder and is dimensioned to cooperate withthe rib extending from the first surface of the grasper body. The ribsare adapted to mate with a groove in the connector head.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a grasper for asurgical retractor, the grasper being provided in the normal position;

FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away perspective view of the grasper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away top plan view of the grasper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial cut-away front elevation view of the grasper of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the grasper of FIG. 1 in an actuatedposition and with a portion of the side body panel removed;

FIG. 6 is a partial cut-away front elevation view of the grasper of FIG.5 in the actuated position; and,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the grasper body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many differentforms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosures are to be considered as exemplifications ofthe principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the broadaspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Referring now in detail to the Figures, and specifically to FIGS. 1 and2, there is shown an embodiment of a grasper 10 for a retractorassembly. In one embodiment, the grasper 10 is push-button activated. Ingeneral, the grasper 10 comprises a grasper body 12, an activator 14, aholder 16, an actuating member 18, a spring 20 and a pin 22. The grasperbody 12 has an opening 24 which is configured to accept a connector head26 for a retractor blade or other retractor component (not shown).Further, the holder 16 is configured to move from a first or normalposition (generally shown in FIGS. 1-4) to a second or actuated position(generally shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). In the first position, a portion ofthe holder 16 is located at least partially in the opening 24 to providefor retaining the connector head 26 in a seated position in the opening24 of the grasper 10. Upon actuation to the second position, the holder16 is configured to allow the connector head 26 to be removed from thegrasper 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, in one embodiment the grasper body 12 comprises aunitary component having a first cavity 28 and a second cavity 30.Referring to assembled grasper 10 in FIGS. 4 and 6, the first cavity 28houses the spring 20, the pin 22 and a portion of the activator 14, andthe second cavity 30 houses the actuating member 18 and a portion of theholder 16. In one embodiment the first cavity 28 is joined to the secondcavity 30.

The grasper body 12 also has an opening 24 defined by a first surface 32thereof. The opening 24 is generally U-shaped and has an arcuate portionto mate with the cylindrical or arcuate shape of the connector head 26.Further, the opening 24 provides a side-loading socket for accepting theconnector head 26 adjacent the first surface 32 of the grasper body 12.Accordingly, the opening 24 is dimensioned to receive, retain andrelease the connector head 26. To assist in accomplishing thesefeatures, a rib 34 extends from the first surface 32 of the grasper body12 and into the opening 24 thereof. The rib 34 generally mates with acorresponding groove 36 on the connector head 26 when the connector head26 is side-inserted into the opening 24. In one embodiment, such asshown in FIG. 1, the holder 16 also has a similar rib 38 extending fromits outer surface. The rib 38 of the holder 16 is dimensioned tocooperate with the rib 34 extending from the first surface 32 of thegrasper body 12 to mate with the corresponding groove 36 on theconnector head 26 and thereby seat the connector head 26 in the opening24 of the grasper body 12. The ribs 34 and 38 may extend any desiredlength about their respective extending surfaces. Further, by theirphysical protrusion into the opening 24 of the grasper body 12, one ofordinary skill in the art would readily understand that the ribs 34 and36, both independently and collectively, operate to prohibit top loadingof the connector head. In an alternate embodiment, however, the holder16 does not have a rib 34, but rather only has a cam surface 65. Theentrance to the opening 24 has a chamfered or beveled portion 25 as alead-in to assist in seating the connector head 26 in the opening 24 ofthe grasper body 12.

The grasper body 12 has a proximal end 40 and a distal end 42, and alongitudinal axis that extends generally from the proximal end 40 to thedistal end 42. In one embodiment the opening 24 is provided generallyadjacent the distal end 42 of the grasper body 12, and a pair ofattachment arms 44 are provided at the proximal end 40 of the grasperbody 12. The attachment arms 44 provide a means for connecting thegrasper 10 to a retractor arm (not shown). Further, in this embodimentthe arms 44 have openings 46 into which a bolt or other fastener isinserted to hingedly connect the grasper 10 to the retractor. As such,the grasper 10 may be rotated about the fastener arm to allow thegrasper 10 to be positioned closer to the surgical site. Additionally,this embodiment of the grasper body 12 has a suture hole 48 to permitthe retractor arms to be sutured in place and thereby to assist inpreventing movement of the retractor after the retractor is positionedby the operator.

As explained above, the first cavity 28 of the grasper body 12 housesthe spring 20, the pin 22 and a portion of the activator 14. In apreferred embodiment the activator 14 is a push-button member 14 thatmanipulates the holder 16 to provide for selectively retaining andreleasing the connector head 26. In this embodiment the spring 20 isgenerally a compression spring. A first end of the spring 20 is providedagainst the bottom of the first cavity 28, and a second end of thespring 20 is provided against the push button activator 14 to exert anupward force on the push-button activator 14. As shown in FIG. 4, thebottom of the push-button activator 14 has a bore 56 to position andretain the second end of the spring 20 therein.

In general, the push-button activator 14 is at least partially seatedwithin the grasper body 12, extends transversely from the grasper body12, and is operable connected to the holder 16 to move the holder 16from the normal position to the actuated position. In one embodiment,the push-button activator 14 is a generally cylindrical component havinga gear member to actuate the holder 16, an opposing recess 52 on itsouter surface, a shoulder 54 at its first end and a bore 56 at itssecond end. In a preferred embodiment the gear member is a gear track50. Further, the activator 14 has a longitudinal axis that extends fromits first end to its second end, and it is understood that in thisembodiment the activator 14 travels about its longitudinal axis. In itsassembled form, the longitudinal axis of the activator 14 is transverseto a longitudinal axis of the grasper body 12. As best shown in FIGS. 4and 6, the recess 52 has a first shoulder 58 and a second shoulder 60,and the pin 22 in the first cavity 28 of the grasper body 12 operates asboth a guide and a stop for the push-button activator 14. In the normalposition, i.e., FIG. 4, the spring 20 engages the activator 14 byexerting an upward force on the activator 14 to bias the activator 14 tothe normal position. The pin 22, however, engages the first shoulder 58of the recess 52 and operates as a stop to prevent additional upwardmovement of the activator 14. When the operator actuates the grasper 10by pushing downward on the activator 14 to overcome the force of thespring 20, see FIG. 6, the activator 14 is pushed further into the firstcavity 28 until either the second shoulder 60 of the activator recess 52engages the pin 22, or the shoulder 54 of the activator 14 bottoms outon a counter-bore of the first cavity 28. This is referred to as theactuated position. As such, the pin 22 also operates as a cam for theactivator 14, and the surfaces of the recess 52 operate as the camfollower. In a preferred embodiment, the pin 22 extends from one side ofthe grasper body 12 to the opposing side thereof.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, in one embodiment the gear track 50 ofthe actuator opposes the recess 52. In this embodiment, the gear track50 of the activator 14 generally comprises a plurality of gear teethwhich are adapted to engage mating members to actuate the holder 16. Ina preferred embodiment the gear track 50 of the activator 14 is linear,however, it is understood that any geometry of a gear, pulley, rack,pinion, or other drive mechanism is possible without departing from thescope of the present invention.

In one embodiment the holder 16 is rotatedly connected to the grasperbody 12 within the second cavity 30 thereof. In this embodiment, a firstshaft 62 extends from one side of the grasper body 12 to the opposingside of the grasper body 12 to rotatedly support the holder 16. In apreferred embodiment the holder 16 has a plurality of engaging members64, such as gear teeth, extending therefrom which are adapted to bedriven by the activator 14. As explained above, in one embodiment theholder 16 also has an outer surface that may operate as a cam surface65, and a rib 38 extending from its outer surface. The outer surface 65generally has an arcuate shape, and in one embodiment the outer surface65 has a convex shape thereto. Further, if provided, the rib 38 of theholder 16 is dimensioned to cooperate with the rib 34 extending from thefirst surface 32 of the grasper body 12 to mate with the correspondinggroove 36 on the connector head 26 and thereby seat the connector head26 in the opening 24 of the grasper body 12.

In addition, an actuating member 18 may be provided to assist intranslating motion from the activator 14 to the holder 16. The actuatingmember 18 is generally positioned in the second cavity 30 and betweenthe activator 14 and the holder 16. In the embodiment illustrated, theactuating member 18 is a gear 66 that rotates about a second shaft 68extending between the opposing sides of the grasper body 12. Theactuating member 18 engages both the gear track 50 on the activator 14and the engaging members 64 on the holder 16. Thus, the holder 16 ispositively driven by actuation of the activator 14. In such anembodiment, as with other possible embodiments, the holder 16 is definedas being gear actuated.

To assemble the embodiment of the grasper 10 of FIG. 1, the spring 20 isinserted into the first cavity 28 of the grasper body 12 such that thefirst end of the spring 20 is positioned against the bottom of the firstcavity 28. The activator 14 is then inserted into the first cavity 28and the second end of the spring 20 is positioned in the bore 56 at thesecond end of the activator 14. Next, the pin 22 is inserted through anaperture 70 in the sidewall of the grasper body 12 and positionedagainst or adjacent the cam follower surface of the recess 52 of theactivator 14. Thus, the pin 22 operates to moveably secure the activator14 within the first cavity 28 of the grasper body 12.

The first and second shafts 62 and 68 are then inserted into therespective retaining apertures 72 in the side wall of the grasper body12. The actuating member 18 is fitted onto the second shaft 68, suchthat the engaging members of the actuator 18 engage the gear track 50 ofthe activator 14. Similarly, the holder 16 is fitted onto the firstshaft 62 such that the engaging members 64 of the holder 64 engage theengaging members of the actuating member 18. After the actuating member18 and the holder 16 are assembled in place, the cap 74 is positioned onthe opposing ends of the first and second shafts 62 and 68 and closesoff the side of the second cavity 30, thereby securing the actuatingmember 18 and the holder 16 in axial place. Each of the shafts and thecap 74 are then laser welded to the grasper body 12 and the entiregrasper 10 is surface ground and polished.

In the assembled embodiment, the normal state of the grasper 10 has theholder 16 extending at least partially in the opening 24 of the grasperbody 12. In such a position a connector head 26 would be retained in theopening 24 and the ribs 34 and 38 of the holder 16 and the grasper body12 would cooperate to mate with the corresponding groove 36 on theconnector head 26 and thereby seat the connector head 26 in the opening24 of the grasper body 12. To release the connector head 26, an operatorwould push down on the push-button activator 14. As the push-buttonactivator 14 is activated, the gear track 50 drives the actuating membergear 18 which in turn drives the engaging members of the holder 16 torotate the holder 16 into the second position such that the connectorhead 26 can be removed from the grasper 10.

In a preferred embodiment each of the components of the grasper 10 aremade of a material that is easily sanitized and provides good wearcharacteristics, such as stainless steel or titanium, however it isunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the components ofthe grasper 10 may be made of any rigid material.

Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described andillustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art wouldappreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possiblecombinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinaryskill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodimentscould be provided in any combination with the other embodimentsdisclosed herein. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,”and “fourth” as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes onlyand do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term“plurality” as used herein indicates any number greater than one, eitherdisjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or centralcharacteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details givenherein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have beenillustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind withoutsignificantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scopeof protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.

1. A grasper for a surgical retractor, the grasper comprising: a grasperbody having a first surface defining a surgical instrument connectorhead opening; a holder configured to move from a first position to asecond position, the holder selectively retaining the surgicalinstrument connector head in the opening in the first position; apush-button activator operably connected to the holder, the push-buttonactivator transitionable from a normal position to an activated positionto assist in manipulating the holder from the first position to thesecond position, the push-button activator having a longitudinal axisthat is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the grasper body, thepush-button activator traveling only in its longitudinal axis; and, aspring within the grasper body and directly engaging the push-buttonactivator to bias the push-button activator to the normal position,wherein the push-button activator has a gear track, the gear trackengaging mating members to actuate the holder.
 2. The grasper of claim1, wherein the holder is rotatedly connected to the grasper body.
 3. Thegrasper of claim 1, wherein the push-button activator is at leastpartially seated within the grasper body.
 4. The grasper of claim 1,wherein the holder has at least one engaging member adapted to be drivenby the gear track on the push-button activator.
 5. The grasper of claim1, further comprising an actuating member between the push-buttonactivator and the holder, the actuating member engaging both the geartrack on the push-button activator and the holder to translate motionfrom the push-button activator to the holder.
 6. The grasper of claim 5,wherein the actuating member is a gear that rotates about a shaftlocated in a cavity within the grasper body.
 7. The grasper of claim 1,further comprising a rib extending from the first surface of the grasperbody into the opening.
 8. The grasper of claim 7, further comprising arib extending from the holder and dimensioned to cooperate with the ribextending from the first surface of the grasper body.
 9. A grasper for asurgical retractor, the grasper comprising: a grasper body having afirst surface defining an opening to accept a surgical instrumentconnector head; a holder rotatably connected to the grasper body andconfigured to move from a first position to a second position, the firstposition being at least partially in the opening; an activatortransversely extending from the grasper body and operably connected tothe holder, wherein the activator travels only in its longitudinal axisto assist in transitioning the holder from the first position to thesecond position, and wherein the holder is gear driven by the activator.10. The grasper of claim 9, wherein the activator is a push-buttonactivator having a longitudinal axis transverse to a longitudinal axisof the grasper body.